Rumors of a US made Tavor have been circulating since SHOT Show 2012 when Michael Kassnar made an appearance with what he said was a working prototype of the Israeli bullpup rifle. Not much was known about this prototype other than it was promised to appear sometime in 2012.
This past weekend I attended the Bullpup Shoot in Park City, Kentucky. The event was held at the incredible Rockcastle Shooting Center and is hosted by the BullpupForum. To my surprise, Michael Kassnar from IWI was present at the event and yes, he had the Tavor with him to give folks a chance to see it and to shoot it. That's right, we got to go loud with the Tavor!
This past weekend I attended the Bullpup Shoot in Park City, Kentucky. The event was held at the incredible Rockcastle Shooting Center and is hosted by the BullpupForum. To my surprise, Michael Kassnar from IWI was present at the event and yes, he had the Tavor with him to give folks a chance to see it and to shoot it. That's right, we got to go loud with the Tavor!
2012 is drawing to a close and the Tavor isn't going to hit before years end, however plans to introduce the much anticipated rifle to US shooters continue to move forward. IWI has purchased the old Charles Daley facilities and has setup manufacturing there. Michael tells us that employees have been hired and production is ready to begin. May of 2013 is the new release date for the rifle, but don't hold your breath folks. These things can take a while and often times dates slip. However, I'm more confident than ever that the Tavor is destine to hit gun stores across America in the near future.
I learned a lot of good information about the Tavor that wasn't previously known about the proposed US variant. There will be differences between it and the Israel and Canadian rifles.
The Tavor takes a slightly different approach to the bullpup concept than other designs such as the AUG however it also has some similarities.
The ejection and charging handle can be changed from right to left hand configuration by swapping a few parts like the bolt, non-reciprocationg charging handle, and other small parts. Unlike the AUG, this is more involved and IWI tells me that it is best done by an armorer.
When it's fired from the left side (right hand configuration) the brass deflector sends spent cases forward, it's flying at around the 2 o'clock position. There is no chance of it hitting your face and you won't be required to change the position of your head on the stock to avoid being hit with ejected brass.
The rifle uses standard STANAG magazines. I'm told it works with most popular magazines including the PMAG, Lancer 5, Troy and USGI mags.
Mag release is a trigger like device in front of the magazine. It's very easy to use. My concern is that a sling or mag pouch might cause an unintentional mag release, but I've not confirmed this as I had neither a sling or chest rig available.
The bolt release is brilliantly simple. You simply push the new mag in, push up with your thumb (already in position) and boom, the bolt rides home with a new round.
The trigger pack is tiny and sits just behind the magazine well. It can stay in the rifle when you remove the bolt. It requires two pins to be pushed out (captive) to drop the trigger pack from the rifle for maintenance.
The flip up sights are integrated into the 1913 rail. The front sight has tritium. The sights can be folded down into the rail and optics may be mounted over them. If you don't like the back-up sights that come with the Tavor, you can install your own.
The front handguard is removable and rails can be installed.
It will be released as a 5.56x45 plus a 9mm conversion kit will be immediately available as well. End users can change calibers themselves, no armorer is required.
The barrel is a quick release barrel. A simple allen wrench type tool is used to quickly release the barrel. Additional barrels of varying length will be available for the rifle.
It will have QD mounts front and rear and on both sides.
The rifle weighs 7.2lbs empty.
The Tavor has a decent trigger, not your typical bullpup mushy, creepy trigger. It's not a match trigger, but it is a solid military trigger. Unlike the AUG and the FS2000, the trigger components of the Tavor are metal and I believe this lends to the more crisp feel of the trigger.
Recoil is about what you would expect. The balance of the rifle is nearly perfect, you can keep this rifle shouldered and in the ready position much longer and more comfortably than a rifle like the M4.
The suggested retail price for the Tavor is projected to be $1900.
The ejection and charging handle can be changed from right to left hand configuration by swapping a few parts like the bolt, non-reciprocationg charging handle, and other small parts. Unlike the AUG, this is more involved and IWI tells me that it is best done by an armorer.
When it's fired from the left side (right hand configuration) the brass deflector sends spent cases forward, it's flying at around the 2 o'clock position. There is no chance of it hitting your face and you won't be required to change the position of your head on the stock to avoid being hit with ejected brass.
The rifle uses standard STANAG magazines. I'm told it works with most popular magazines including the PMAG, Lancer 5, Troy and USGI mags.
Mag release is a trigger like device in front of the magazine. It's very easy to use. My concern is that a sling or mag pouch might cause an unintentional mag release, but I've not confirmed this as I had neither a sling or chest rig available.
The bolt release is brilliantly simple. You simply push the new mag in, push up with your thumb (already in position) and boom, the bolt rides home with a new round.
The trigger pack is tiny and sits just behind the magazine well. It can stay in the rifle when you remove the bolt. It requires two pins to be pushed out (captive) to drop the trigger pack from the rifle for maintenance.
The flip up sights are integrated into the 1913 rail. The front sight has tritium. The sights can be folded down into the rail and optics may be mounted over them. If you don't like the back-up sights that come with the Tavor, you can install your own.
The front handguard is removable and rails can be installed.
It will be released as a 5.56x45 plus a 9mm conversion kit will be immediately available as well. End users can change calibers themselves, no armorer is required.
The barrel is a quick release barrel. A simple allen wrench type tool is used to quickly release the barrel. Additional barrels of varying length will be available for the rifle.
It will have QD mounts front and rear and on both sides.
The rifle weighs 7.2lbs empty.
The Tavor has a decent trigger, not your typical bullpup mushy, creepy trigger. It's not a match trigger, but it is a solid military trigger. Unlike the AUG and the FS2000, the trigger components of the Tavor are metal and I believe this lends to the more crisp feel of the trigger.
Recoil is about what you would expect. The balance of the rifle is nearly perfect, you can keep this rifle shouldered and in the ready position much longer and more comfortably than a rifle like the M4.
The suggested retail price for the Tavor is projected to be $1900.
I wonder how we will get these into California?
ReplyDeletePlease describe the bolt carrier group and the gas system. Is this a gas piston, a direct impingement, or something in between?
ReplyDeleteBeen to the Rock Castle facility. Lovely. Grew up just 8 miles east of there!
I wanted one ever since, I knew they were deployed out to IDF forces.
ReplyDeleteShould anyone want to "Donate" a Tavor to me, I will take care of it the rest of my life.
How and were can one pre order one of these?
ReplyDelete